[beaniekapp]

howdy ho...!! back from the dead... but anyways... for those who have read this thread from a months ago and have put it to use... just wanna see how has things been for you in your improvements of toprock...?

cats who just read this are welcome to put input as well...

also whatever you wanna share related to the topic... please feel free to do so...!! peace...!!

[Venilla]

I somehow developed my toprock to a...unique phase...
Perhaps it'll pass soon, perhaps not.

It's like a phase where...you find these cool transitions, new style, etc. but it's very limited. Soon after, you find yourself very repetitive.

I'm actually not sure exactly what to do. Haha

Tips/advices?

[beaniekapp]

if youre repetitive with your feet thats actually fine... no need to worry there... cuz youre actually programming your body in a way that sets you how to move... theres pros and cons to it though... the pro is that you're drilling a step into your body so it memorizes and youre actually mastering a move by being comfortable with it... the con is that if you keep doing it youre becoming a robot... meaning to say programmed to do only certain things and you're forgetting the freestyle aspect of it...

kinda sounds contradictory huh...? hahaha...!!

besides thats where hand styles and upper body movements come in play... whereas you can do the steps repeatedly but your upper body and hands are doing different things... check back on my post regarding staying high and staying low... hand styles is a whole other realm though...

also have you been working on your form...? its a crucial part in this as it focuses on the way you look and present yourself... you dont wanna go out there knowing you got all the steps but theyre all done halfassed and lazy like... treat the drills like stretches...

if any more want to jump in and drop a gem... feel free to do so...!! peace...!!

[demonhand]

Haha the last time I posted with a problem was 7 months ago. I've gotten much better since then IMO. Definitely got more variety and feeling to my tops now, but it seems a bit messy. To start off, my toprock isn't symmetrical anymore because I started freestyling more. I guess I should started remembering moves and practising doing them on the other side...

I'm trying to focus more on my arm, hand, and head movement now. To use a clichéd phrase, you really have to use all of your body.

[beaniekapp]

Originally Posted by demonhand Haha the last time I posted with a problem was 7 months ago. I've gotten much better since then IMO. Definitely got more variety and feeling to my tops now, but it seems a bit messy. To start off, my toprock isn't symmetrical anymore because I started freestyling more. I guess I should started remembering moves and practising doing them on the other side... I'm trying to focus more on my arm, hand, and head movement now. To use a clichéd phrase, you really have to use all of your body.

actually thats a good way to go about it... if youre freestyling... symmetry is thrown out the window cuz youre actually just dancing from feeling at that point... so no need to worry... but it can still be used as a base to come back to with your steps... but youre on the right track then if thats how you feel... still keep practicing both sides... its still a must...

any more inputs are welcome... its good to hear peoples progress from this and see that people are learning more how to dance... thanks and peace...!!

[bgirl-me]

yeah i'm getting there with the symmetry thing now, and much more aware of my form, still gotta work on it tho, and feels real messy when i do freestyle now coz i'm so much more aware of how things should look. anyway i like this thread..

[beaniekapp]

Originally Posted by bgirl-me yeah i'm getting there with the symmetry thing now, and much more aware of my form, still gotta work on it tho, and feels real messy when i do freestyle now coz i'm so much more aware of how things should look. anyway i like this thread..

regarding freestyling... check my response to venilla on this same page... and be sure to check the thread again in the future for reference and review...

any more are free to drop whatever... thanks...!!

[bboyInfest]

i find i like to play around with my tops, like i'll do some drunken style stumbling but still steping on the snares, but mainly i like to think of the concept for my tops as smooth up and downs, like the transitions to footwork are really a lot less jerkier, i guess, then the conventional knee drop. Like I'll lean backwards and then fall into a cc position or spin while i croutch down to get into footwork and i repeat a lot of my steps, especially where i step out with right foot and then slide my left foot over, but have no idea why lol

[RisenSounds]

i honestly don't understand the indian step.
the only toprock i can do is the cross step
everytime i try to do the indian step it looks idiotic. heelp! i cant go into any bboy battles with just a cross step!

[Venilla]

Originally Posted by bboyInfest i find i like to play around with my tops, like i'll do some drunken style stumbling but still steping on the snares, but mainly i like to think of the concept for my tops as smooth up and downs, like the transitions to footwork are really a lot less jerkier, i guess, then the conventional knee drop. Like I'll lean backwards and then fall into a cc position or spin while i croutch down to get into footwork and i repeat a lot of my steps, especially where i step out with right foot and then slide my left foot over, but have no idea why lol

If I'm correct, I believe you're talking about drops. Wrong section. xD
But to answer your question anyways; I believe it has something to do with the feel of dropping. The comfortablility of dropping that way and/or being used to dropping like that.
I always use plain knee drop and spinning knee drop due to the fact that I'm able to control nearly every aspect of it. The speed, the form, the measure, etc. I can't say it's a good thing since it limits the variety of other forms of drops. Why? Because having variety is always good. :P

Originally Posted by RisenSounds i honestly don't understand the indian step. the only toprock i can do is the cross step everytime i try to do the indian step it looks idiotic. heelp! i cant go into any bboy battles with just a cross step!

Try taking the move apart and doing them step by step in the mirror.
Remember: Don't start it fast. Break it apart, look in the mirror and set the position you would like it to be (comfortable, looks-cool, etc.), and concentrate mainly on the form you want by going veeerrrryyy slowly, starting the way you want to and ending the way you want to.
As you practice and get use to the movement, you can try to increase your speed little by little as you practice.

To be honest, practicing the indian step slowly will be very irritating at first since it takes so long and is somewhat awkward.
But no pain no gain. It'll pay off. :P

[beaniekapp]

Originally Posted by RisenSounds i honestly don't understand the indian step. the only toprock i can do is the cross step everytime i try to do the indian step it looks idiotic. heelp! i cant go into any bboy battles with just a cross step!

i can help you if i know what YOUR definition of the cross and indian steps are... cuz my definitions of is that both are the same thing... unless youre speaking of crossovers which on these boards are called hip twists... (im sorry but hip twists is lame name... hahaha...)

but yea its best to describe the move you're talking bout cuz everyone has different definitions...

[Venilla]

Originally Posted by beaniekapp i can help you if i know what YOUR definition of the cross and indian steps are... cuz my definitions of is that both are the same thing... unless youre speaking of crossovers which on these boards are called hip twists... (im sorry but hip twists is lame name... hahaha...) but yea its best to describe the move you're talking bout cuz everyone has different definitions...

I thought crossovers were like..."battle rocks" or something like that. The exaggerated indian step or something like that.

[beaniekapp]

Originally Posted by Venilla I thought crossovers were like..."battle rocks" or something like that. The exaggerated indian step or something like that.

remember everyone has their own definitions of it as long you know what the move is... i could try to break down certain definitions that most people use so it could be easier for people to understand...

indian step/ front cross
reverse indian/ back cross
crossover/ hip twist
kick steps/ ball and chain

heres a complicated one... haha...

march step (that damn bboy game)/ apache step/ horsey step

these are kind of like the main ones that has various definitions... but i recommend best in order to understand... its best to describe the move youre talking... cuz if you tell someone a name of a step is done like this or that... and they reply... no i meant like this or that... then definitely both parties are not on the same page... haha...

[Venilla]

Originally Posted by beaniekapp remember everyone has their own definitions of it as long you know what the move is... i could try to break down certain definitions that most people use so it could be easier for people to understand... indian step/ front cross reverse indian/ back cross crossover/ hip twist kick steps/ ball and chain heres a complicated one... haha... march step (that damn bboy game)/ apache step/ horsey step

I loled. xD

Hahaha I see...

[beaniekapp]

Originally Posted by Venilla I loled. xD Hahaha I see...

hey dont ask me... ive heard it as that before... lol...!!